By Roy Sanford, Freelance Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
SISTER TERESIA Tinanisolo, a stalwart in the early childhood education in the Mt. Salem community, in Montego Bay, will be leaving Jamaica soon to take up another job in the United States.
The Roman Catholic nun, of the Mission Sisters of the Society of Mary, came to Jamaica when she was asked by her religious congregation to help run and administer Holy Family Self Help Centre, located in Mt. Salem.
Upon her arrival in the island, she founded the Holy Family Basic School, which became an integral part of the centre. Since then, she has been instrumental in early childhood education as well as in the training of young women for the hospitality industry.
Born in Suva, Fiji, Sr. Teresia, a trained teacher in Home Economics, taught in many high schools in her homeland before coming to Jamaica in 1996 to experience life in this part of the world. "I was shocked when I arrived here," she told The Gleaner. "I was taken aback by the stark poverty, the street people, the squatter villages and the violence."
Although it took two years to adjust fully to Jamaica, she came to love and cherish the island. "I began to love Jamaica very much when I started interacting with the people," she said. "And I got closer to them when I began to see their needs and I started fulfilling some of those needs."
Sr. Teresia fondly recalls an incident, which shows how much she loves Jamaica and how the island has grown close to her heart. "I returned to Fiji within the past few months," she said. "People remarked that I was referring to the people of Jamaica as 'our people.' I was identifying myself as a Jamaican when I was talking to my people in Fiji and it happened quite unconsciously."
She has had many wonderful experiences on the island. "The best experience I have is seeing the joy of the women whom I trained in the hospitality industry, receive their certificates," she noted. "And I will always remember the little ones. They are so loving and so affirming."
She said the only regret she has in going away from Jamaica is leaving people she has grown to love. "I am leaving with joy knowing that I have done some good," she remarked. "However, it is really hard saying goodbye to people you love."
"My experience in Jamaica can only be described as marvellous," Sr. Teresia continued. "Apart from my accent people would think I were a Jamaican."
